Clinical Laboratory Research Scientist

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Clinical Laboratory Research Scientist

As a Research Scientist on our Clinical Development Sciences team, you will play a crucial role in advancing Elanco’s pipeline. You will be at the forefront of supporting our ongoing clinical studies by planning, conducting, and meticulously documenting pivotal laboratory experiments. This position offers a unique opportunity to not only contribute to the statistical analysis of clinical trials but also to drive innovation by identifying and applying new technologies to enhance our clinical laboratory capabilities.

Your Responsibilities:

Experimental Design & Execution: Work with Sponsors and Study Managers to define project requirements; develop and review protocols, validation methods, and sample analysis plans to support clinical studies (GRP).

Methodology & Innovation: Identify, develop, and implement new viral/bacterial culture methodologies, analytical methods, and laboratory technologies to continuously update and improve the clinical laboratory's capabilities.

Data Integrity & Analysis: Independently review, approve, and prepare raw data and laboratory data packages for statistical analysis, ensuring scientific accuracy, completeness, and compliance with all quality systems and standards (e.g., GxP, SOPs).

Technical Leadership & Support: Lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve scientific issues, manage complex project workloads, and provide technical support to ensure the successful and timely completion of studies.

Laboratory Operations: Maintain the laboratory infrastructure, including equipment and a clean, safe, and organized working environment, while preparing and updating SOPs and working procedures.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Science, or a related scientific discipline with equivalent experience.

Experience: A minimum of 5-8 years of hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.

Top Skills: Demonstrated experience in laboratory techniques (such as cell culture, assay design, and molecular biology) and a strong understanding of experimental design and data analysis.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline.

In-depth knowledge of clinical laboratory study design, execution, and operational workflow in a GxP-regulated environment.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting and present complex scientific data.

Experience in leading troubleshooting efforts, managing complex projects, or mentoring junior scientists.

Additional Information:

Travel: Less than 10%

Location: Fort Dodge, IA – On-Site Work Environment

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:

Multiple relocation packages

Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)

8-week parental leave

9 Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

Up to 6% 401K matching

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.